When I initially strapped on the SkyCaddie LX5, I'll admit I was skeptical. I've tested enough golf watches to fill a pro shop display case, and most of them promise the moon but deliver something closer to a driving range yardage marker. The 1.39-inch AMOLED display immediately caught my eye though – this thing is bright. I mean, squinting-in-full-Arizona-sun bright. The 454 x 454 resolution makes my old Garmin S62 look like it needs reading glasses.
Right out of the box, the LX5 felt substantial without being bulky. At first glance, it looks more like a high-end smartwatch than a golf GPS, which honestly surprised me. Most golf watches scream "I play golf" from across the room, but this one could pass for something you'd wear to a business meeting (and I have). The ruggedized casing holds up impressively well through rain delays and cart path mishaps without showing a single scratch.
SkyCaddie LX5 is the ultimate golf watch powerhouse, offering the largest HD touchscreen and ultra-precise distances with patented IntelliGreen® tech. Featuring over 35,000 ground-verified courses and smart Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity, this watch delivers next-level golf insights and fitness tracking for pro-level performance on and off the course.
Let me back up and talk about why the display matters so much. I've been using golf GPS devices since the original SkyCaddie handheld units back in 2005, and the biggest complaint I've always had is trying to read the damn things in bright sunlight. The LX5's AMOLED touchscreen completely solved this problem. When you're standing over your ball trying to figure out if you can carry that bunker at 165 yards, the last thing you want is to be shading your watch with your hand like you're checking the time in a movie theater.
But here's where it gets interesting: the HoleVue graphics aren't just pretty visuals. The full HD display shows actual hole layouts with enough detail that I can see individual bunkers, water hazards, and even cart paths. The zoom and pan functionality works exactly like your smartphone, which means there's zero learning curve. I found myself zooming in on greens to check pin positions and actually being able to see the contours clearly.
The responsive interface deserves its own mention. I've used watches where you tap the screen and wait... and wait... and then overtap because you think it didn't register. Not here. The multi-core processor they stuffed into this thing makes movement feel instant. Switching between holes, checking distances, scrolling through hazards, it all happens without that annoying lag that makes you want to chuck your device into the nearest water hazard.
Now, let's talk about what really matters: accuracy. SkyCaddie claims they have people physically walk every course for sub-meter precision, and after playing 15 rounds with the LX5, I believe them. I brought my laser rangefinder for comparison (because I'm that guy), and the distances were consistently within a yard or two. On my home course, where I know every sprinkler head distance by heart, the LX5 nailed it every single time.
The preloaded 35,000+ courses mean I haven't found a track yet that wasn't already on there. I played a brand new course in Scottsdale that opened three months ago, and sure enough, it was already mapped. The auto-course selection kicked in as soon as I pulled into the parking lot, and the auto-hole advance meant I never had to touch the watch between holes unless I wanted to check something specific.
What really sold me was the IntelliGreen technology. This isn't just showing you a generic green shape; it's showing you the exact contours and dimensions. On a course I play regularly, there's a par 3 with a two-tiered green that's notorious for leaving you with 40-foot putts if you're on the wrong tier. The LX5 shows exactly where that ridge is so that I can adjust my club selection accordingly. The fluid front-center-back yardages update in real-time as you move, which sounds like a small thing until you're walking up to your ball and can see the numbers changing without having to press anything. The SkyCaddie PinPoint technology takes this even further by providing precise distances to actual pin locations when available. The watch displays multiple distances simultaneously, just like premium GPS devices, eliminating the need to cycle through different screens for comprehensive course information.
The target list view is something I didn't think I'd use much, but it's become indispensable. Instead of scrolling around the whole view, you get a simple list of every hazard and landmark with distances. Water at 142, bunker at 158, back of green at 173, boom, everything you need at a glance.
I've always been lukewarm on the stat tracking features of golf watches because entering data mid-round feels like homework. The LX5 makes it painless enough that I actually use it. After each hole, a quick tap brings up the scorecard where you can input your score, putts, whether you hit the fairway, and if you hit the green in regulation. It takes maybe 10 seconds.
But here's where it gets useful: the SkyGolf 360 Cloud sync means all this data goes straight to your phone. After a round, I can pull up the app and see trends I never noticed before. Turns out I'm losing most of my strokes on holes where I miss the fairway left (who knew I had a pattern?). The three-year worldwide membership they include means you're not paying extra for these features, which is invigorating in a world where everyone wants a subscription fee.
The round timer is a feature I didn't expect to care about but now love. It tracks your total round time, which has actually helped our group speed up play. When you can see you've been out there for 2 hours and you're only on hole 9, it's a wake-up call. The stat tracking also includes total putts per round and fairways hit percentage, giving you hard data instead of the "I think I'm putting better" guesswork most of us rely on.
When I saw the LX5 had a heart rate monitor and step counter, my initial thought was "great, another golf watch trying to be a Fitbit." But after wearing it daily for two months, I've changed my tune. The step counter means I'm wearing one device instead of two, and seeing that I walk about 7 miles during 18 holes makes me feel slightly better about the post-round beers.
The heart rate monitor has actually been eye-opening. My heart rate spikes to 140+ when I'm standing over a breaking putt to win a Nassau bet (explains why I miss so many of those). The step goal setting integrates seamlessly; you set a daily target, and it buzzes when you hit it. On non-golf days, the stopwatch and timer functions mean I'm still wearing it to the gym.
Multiple watch faces let you customize the look for different occasions. I use a sporty face on the course and a more subdued analog face for everyday wear. It's these little touches that make the LX5 feel less like dedicated golf equipment and more like a versatile smartwatch that happens to excel at golf.
Two rounds per charge sounds limiting until you realize that's about 8-10 hours of actual GPS use. In practice, I'm charging it once or twice a week with regular golf and daily wear. The battery indicator gives you plenty of warning, and I've never had it die mid-round (though I came close once after forgetting to charge for a week).
The Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi connectivity mean updates happen automatically when you're in range of your home network. No more plugging into a computer and downloading course updates like it's 2010. New courses and updates to existing courses just appear, which is exactly how it should work in 2024. The wireless connection also means your rounds sync to the cloud without any cable connecting, though the initial setup took me about 20 minutes of fumbling with the app to get everything paired correctly.
SkyCaddie LX5 is the ultimate golf watch powerhouse, offering the largest HD touchscreen and ultra-precise distances with patented IntelliGreen® tech. Featuring over 35,000 ground-verified courses and smart Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity, this watch delivers next-level golf insights and fitness tracking for pro-level performance on and off the course.
Yes, you can use the SkyCaddie LX5 in tournaments through its Tournament Mode, which disables features that aren't allowed in competitive play like PlaysLike Distance, PinPointer, Virtual Caddie, and GreenZoom. You'll still have core GPS functionality for basic yardages while complying with official tournament regulations. The device's digital scorecard lets you track your competitive rounds, including total score, putts, GIR, and fairway accuracy for post-tournament analysis.
The watch works internationally across all major golf regions. You'll have access to over 35,000 preloaded course maps worldwide, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Your 3-year membership covers global usage without additional fees or regional restrictions. You can download course updates anywhere via Wi-Fi, and the device supports multiple languages and measurement units. There's no hardware or software limitation preventing you from using it in any country.
You'll get a 6-month manufacturer's warranty from your purchase date that covers defects in materials and workmanship. If you're in the US and register your new LX5 within 30 days of buying it, you can extend coverage to 12 months total. The warranty protects against hardware malfunctions and manufacturing defects. After it expires, you won't have battery replacement options since the battery isn't replaceable, which becomes problematic for long-term use.
Yes, you'll find the SkyCaddie LX5 fully compatible with left-handed golfers. You can wear it comfortably on either wrist, and the touchscreen interface works in the same manner regardless of your dominant hand. You won't need special accessories or setup adjustments. All features, including the rotating display graphics, digital scorecard, and Pinpoint Technology for exact distances, operate the same way whether you're left or right-handed. The course data isn't biased toward right-handed play either.
You'll pay $79.95 annually for the DOUBLE EAGLE worldwide plan, which offers the most extensive coverage. If you don't need global access, you can save with the EAGLE nationwide plan at $59.95 or the BIRDIE statewide plan at $49.95. There's also a free PAR plan, but it only provides basic front, center, and back yardages. Your LX5 purchase includes a 3-year prepaid DOUBLE EAGLE membership, so you won't pay anything extra initially.
After two months with the SkyCaddie LX5, it's become my primary golf GPS device, and that's saying something considering the collection of rangefinders and watches I've accumulated. The combination of the brilliant display, tour-level accuracy, and useful fitness features makes it the most complete golf watch I've tested.
Is it perfect? No. I wish the battery lasted a full week, and the initial setup process could be smoother. But when I'm standing in the fairway and need to know if I can clear that creek at 187 yards, the LX5 gives me confidence in my number. In a game where one yard can be the difference between a birdie opportunity and a penalty stroke, that confidence is worth every penny. If you're ready to upgrade from your phone app or aging GPS unit, the SkyCaddie LX5 is the golf watch to beat in 2024.
